Football sometimes strikes off the field. Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona's coach, received the worst possible news this Sunday: his father passed away just before the LaLiga EA Sports Clásico against Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou. The Catalan club, through its social media channels, showed its support for the German coach, sending him all their warmth during this delicate moment.
How to manage grief in the era of sports big data 😢
In a world where coaches are glued to tactical analysis screens and performance metrics, emotional management remains a piece of data that no algorithm can process. Tools for tracking psychological load and wearables that measure stress are useful, but in the face of a family loss, the most advanced software offers no answers. Barça's coaching staff must prioritize human support over statistics, remembering that behind every digital profile is a person with real feelings.
The Clásico goes on, but VAR doesn't review soul's penalties ⚽
As the players warm up on the Camp Nou pitch, one wonders if VAR could review the hardest blow of the day. Spoiler: no. The video assistant referee system is programmed for millimeter offsides and questionable handballs, not to measure the weight of a loss on the bench. That said, if Flick takes a few seconds of silence, some commentator will surely mistake it for a pause to adjust tactics on the tablet.